The Simple Way to Stop Your Dog From Barking

This is one of the most common behaviors clients list when asked what their dogs problem behaviors are.  The key to dealing with this annoying behavior is developing a relationship involving clear communication with your dog.

We usually deal with problem barking towards the end of the first session after we have shown the owner how to establish themself as the pack leader in the eyes of their dog.  It’s harder to do with a dog than people because dogs judge you by your consistent actions, not the words that come out of your mouth.  They have already been exposed to consistent corrections using the Immediate Correction Lead.

First, we have to understand why dogs bark.  The three primary reasons are to summon the pack to the location of where the “threat” is, to keep the threat away, draw your attention to a need such as needing water, or wanting to go out.

Think of how many times your dog barks at something and it eventually goes away.  If your dog barks at a squirrel for an hour or the UPS guy every day and they leave, the dog chalks it up to a victory, accomplished of course by his amazing barking.  Once again, he has saved the family.

When your dog is barking at something, they are totally fixated on it.  You can see the proof of this if you tap them from behind as they are barking like mad.  Their hearing, not needed for barking or fending off attackers, diminishes.  Especially in the house you will be behind them, and if you yell at them to stop all they recognize is you “barking” in the same direction as they are.  This is absolutely the worst thing you can do to stop them from barking but the more they bark, the more fixated you become, and the louder you yell.  This only further convinces them that what they are fixated on is actually a threat.

Three things cause a dog to bark; sounds, movement, and new things in their environment.  Let’s not forget that one of the primary reasons we brought dogs into live with us was for their amazing ability to serve as security systems allowing us to sleep better at night.  For this reason, we don’t want our dog to not bark at all.  We need to find a happy medium that gives us the ability to turn the dog “off” after two barks.

The key to managing barking is to first find a particular sound that really gets your dog going nuts.  We use a wide range of sounds on our phone. We use the command ENOUGH along with a correction using the Immediate Correction Lead after the dog has barked twice in response to the stimulus.  Then we move onto more familiar sounds such as doorbells and someone knocking at the door.  This is made possible by giving the dog a clear command along with a physical correction from someone it recognizes as it’s leader.  Soon, when your dog barks twice and you don’t say anything, they will look at you instead of continuing to bark.  At this time, you call them to you for praise.  At night, or when left alone in the house they will continue to bark.

For help managing barking and all other behaviors, with all breeds, and all ages, visit MCS Dog Training and click contact to schedule your Love & Leadership Appointment.